Date: Tue, 06 Apr 2004 19:12:24 -0400
From: "Herb Hedgecock"
To: "ultra mail"
Subject: The Fool's Run
Hello all,
There were many ultras this past weekend, with results
posted here. Congrats to all who ran. The barkley marathons
was part of this weekend's running. Thanks to David Horton for
posting about the details of the run not finished, but is
over now. I am in awe of Tilden and Nelson having finished
their fifth loop. Actually congrats to all who started.
There has been much written about barkley. Some saying
it it over-hyped; others putting it down that it isn't an
ultra; some in awe and disbelief at it's difficulty.
I'm one of those who dreamed and imagined doing
barkley for many years. Thirty-minute miles just seemed so
doable. Why was it that so few could run an ultra and finish
in such an apparently easy time.
Well, this year I returned for my second attempt after
last year's dnf short of one loop. My friends, Sarah & Rich, and
new friend, Dick, RAN barkley. We ran the downhills, we ran the
easy trails, and we walked or struggled up the 11,000 ft of
hills. We ran. We pushed and pulled each other along; we
struggled climbing the steep ascents. WE RAN! We finished that
one loop in 12:4x knowing that we had won. Of course, the fun
run was three loops, and the real run was five. Still one loop
was our goals, which we met. Just 20 miles if you believe Laz's
propanganda. His miles make Horton/Hedgecock miles seem short
and easy. Each loop was more like 25.
Doing 20-25 miles in 8 to 13 hours just isn't an
ultra run for some folks, so some who have never been there
put it down as not being an ultra. Well, you can do your
50 km/50 mi/100's and think that maybe you could do
barkley like those runs you have done. But you can't do
barkley in any of your times compared to that! If you
think you can, then go for the April Fool's run and see
how it kicks your butt. You will be assured of how hard
barkley is. My two pals and I "just did" one loop this
year, and felt we had conquered the world. Just one loop
out of five, and we celebrated the nicest dnf of our
running lives. We won this past weekend, and are more
sore than any 50km/50mi we have ever done before this.
If any of you want to try a run that is an
adventure, then try bakley and you will learn first-
hand just how difficult an ultra can be. My caveat to
anyone who thinks they can "walk" the course and
finish each loop by the 13:20 cutoffs for each of the
three fun-run loops, or walk the 100 in 60 hours,
then forget it! You can't do it!!! You have to RUN.
Herb (BRR will be like icing on the cake) Hedgecock
Redneck Wisdom For The Day:
When you come to a fork in the road,
then pick it up. You may also find
the knife and spoon nearby.